Unit 628 Beaver
Utah's third-highest range — a top general-season deer unit, 350-class limited-entry bulls, and the state's largest mountain goat herd above 12,000 feet
South-Central Utah — Tushar Mountains · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
1,790
sq mi
Public land
90%
approx.
Elevation
5,900–12,174
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
The Beaver unit is built around the Tushar Mountains, Utah's third-highest range behind the Uintas and La Sals, rising to 12,174-foot Delano Peak just east of I-15. It is one of the best general-season mule deer units in the state — among the few consistently meeting population objectives — while its limited-entry elk hunt produces mature 6x6 bulls in the 350-inch class off high, rugged alpine country. The Tushars also hold Utah's largest mountain goat herd, a once-in-a-lifetime hunt on the peaks around Delano and Mount Holly. Steep timber, high basins and burn-opened glassing country define the hunt.
Terrain
A big-relief volcanic range climbing from the Beaver Valley floor near 5,900 ft to alpine summits over 12,000 ft — Delano Peak (12,174 ft), Mount Belknap (12,137 ft) and Mount Baldy. Steep, rugged, densely timbered mid-slopes give way to open alpine tundra and cirque basins up high.
Cover: Sagebrush and pinyon-juniper on the lower flanks, dense mixed conifer and aspen through the mid-elevations (much of it opened up by past wildfires that improved glassing and forage), and grassy alpine tundra above treeline where the goats live.
Landmarks: Delano Peak (12,174 ft) · Mount Belknap (12,137 ft) · Mount Baldy · Mount Holly · Big John Flat · Puffer Lake · Kents Lake · Eagle Point / Elk Meadows
Access
The high country is Fishlake National Forest with an extensive road and trail network — the Big John Flat road and the Beaver Canyon (SR-153) corridor open the alpine, with BLM and SITLA on the lower flanks (both open to hunting). Private ranch ground is concentrated in the Beaver Valley and the eastern Piute/Marysvale side, so watch boundaries where the mountain meets the farms.
Managers: USFS Fishlake NF (Beaver Ranger District), BLM, SITLA, private
Access points: Beaver Canyon / SR-153 from Beaver · Big John Flat road (high-clearance to the alpine) · Puffer Lake and Kents Lake trailheads · Eagle Point / Elk Meadows ski area access · East-side access from Junction/Marysvale off US-89
Species notes
Mule Deer
abundant qualityOne of Utah's premier general-season deer units and one of the few meeting herd objectives. Past fires opened up the northern half for glassing and boosted forage, and the mix of high basins and dense timber holds good numbers with better-than-average buck quality for a general tag.
- →Glass burn-opened slopes and the sage-timber edges at first and last light
- →Hunt the dense north-half timber pockets where mature bucks hide from pressure
- →Get above the deer in the high basins early season, then follow them down as storms push them to winter range
- →Be ready for steep, rugged country — the best bucks are where boots are scarce
Rocky Mountain Elk
common trophyA managed limited-entry unit producing mature bulls — realistic 350-inch 6x6s off high-elevation country above 10,000 feet. Hard to draw and physically demanding, the Beaver/Tushar bull hunt is regarded as a hunt-of-a-lifetime tag.
- →Locate bulls by bugling and glassing the high alpine basins and timber edges at dawn
- →Prepare for hunting at 10,000+ feet — fitness and acclimatization matter
- →Work the timber-meadow transitions during the rut when bulls are vocal and moving
- →Use the burns and open alpine parks for long-range glassing to inventory bulls before committing
Mountain Goat
common trophyThe Tushars hold Utah's largest mountain goat herd — a couple hundred animals transplanted in 1986 and thriving on the alpine slopes of Delano, Holly and Belknap. The tag is a once-in-a-lifetime goat permit and a signature high-country trophy hunt.
- →Glass the alpine tundra and cliff edges around Delano Peak and Mount Holly from below
- →Access the high country via Big John Flat, then hunt on foot along the summit ridges
- →Be prepared for severe alpine weather and long, exposed stalks above treeline
- →Judge billies vs. nannies carefully — take time behind the glass before the climb
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears use the Tushars' timbered mid-slopes and oakbrush; a fair spring and fall opportunity exists on the forested flanks.
- →Glass oakbrush and aspen benches in spring green-up and fall mast
- →Focus on drainages and berry patches where bears feed
Cougar
common opportunityMountain lions thrive on the unit's strong deer herd and are hunted mainly as a winter houndsman pursuit.
- →Cut tracks on fresh snow along canyon fronts and the deer winter range
- →Work the timbered breaks where deer concentrate in winter
Pro tips
- →Hunt the burns — past fires opened glassing lanes and pulled deer and elk to the fresh forage in the northern half
- →Get up Big John Flat early season for elk and goats, but respect the road when it's wet
- →For a general deer tag, escape the road-hunters by dropping into the steep dense timber where mature bucks hold
- →Watch the weather window — a single storm can transform the high country and relocate the animals overnight
Watch out for
- !Steep, rugged, densely timbered terrain — physically demanding and easy to get turned around
- !High-elevation weather changes fast; alpine hunters face real exposure risk
- !Big John Flat and high roads become treacherous when wet or snowed
- !Private ranch ground in Beaver Valley and the east side — mind the boundaries
- !Heavy general-season pressure on the road-accessible glassing slopes
Logistics
Beaver, right on I-15, is the natural basecamp with fuel, food, motels and services minutes from Beaver Canyon. The Big John Flat road puts you in the alpine but is rough and high-clearance only, and it gets slick fast in weather. Camp along SR-153 or at the forest lakes. Cell service is decent in the valley and around Beaver but drops off in the high country.
Nearest towns: Beaver, Junction, Marysvale, Milford, Circleville
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Utah sources:
Research sources: UDWR Utah Hunt Planner · GOHUNT — Utah Beaver Unit Profile · Tushar Mountains — Wikipedia · St. George News — Mountain goats in the Tushars · USFS Fishlake National Forest
FAQ
- How big is Unit 628 in Utah?
- Unit 628 (Beaver) covers about 1,790 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,900 to 12,174 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 628?
- Approximately 90% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Fishlake NF (Beaver Ranger District), BLM, SITLA, private. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 628?
- Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, Mountain Goat, Black Bear, Cougar. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Utah agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
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